PRISTINA -- Kosovo has proclaimed a Russian UN worker persona non grata and ordered him expelled from the country.
Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj posted on Facebook on May 31 that he had ordered the Foreign Ministry to declare Mikhail Krasnoshchekov unwelcome, effective immediately.
Haradinaj also called on the special representative of the UN secretary-general in Kosovo to comply with the decision.
However, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said UN personnel could not be declared "persona non grata" as they represent the United Nations and not a foreign country. He stressed that UN staff enjoy diplomatic immunity from prosecution.
"I would like to note that the doctrine of 'persona non grata' does not apply to or in respect of United Nations personnel," Haq told reporters in New York on May 31.
"We stand by the immunity of our personnel who are on duty."
Krasnoshchekov was detained on May 28 in a series of police raids in the country's Serb-dominated north. Nineteen police officers were arrested in the raids on suspicion of "criminal activities," while Krasnoshchekov, one other UN mission member, and six ethnic Serbs were detained on suspicion of hampering the police operation.
Krasnoshchekov was quickly released and sought medical attention in a hospital in North Mitrovica. He was later transferred to the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.
Russia's ambassador to Serbia, Aleksandr Chepurin, on May 31 visited Krasnoshchekov in the hospital and called the incident "barbarity and an atrocity."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking in Tokyo the same day, called the actions by the Kosovar authorities "absolutely unacceptable."
"Their attempts to strip our member of his powers and status, which UN mission employees have, is a very serious issue," Lavrov said. "UN representatives should respond to it."
Kosovo is a former province of Serbia that unilaterally declared independence in 2008. Although 112 UN member countries have recognized Kosovo, Russia and Serbia have not.
Kosovo Declares Russian UN Worker Persona Non Grata
Updated
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
Harris Or Trump: What Will It Mean For Ukraine?
2Israel's Attack On Iran Has Left Tehran Offensively And Defensively Weaker
314 Dead In Roof Collapse At Railway Station In Serbia's Novi Sad
4Exclusive: Early Peace Plan Shows Russia's Intent To Neutralize Ukraine
5Russia Shows Off Purported U.S. National Snatched From Ukraine Spy Work
6Ukraine Live Briefing: Fierce Battles Near Kurakhove
7Pro-Western Sandu Wins Second Term As Moldovan President
8Pentagon Announces New Deployments To Middle East In Warning To Iran
9U.S. Warns Iran It Can't 'Hold Israel Back' If New Attack Launched, Axios Reports
10Amnesty Calls For Release Of Iranian Woman Who Removed Clothes In Protest
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
